James Brown

[Arch Stanton]

I have been a James Brown fan for a long time. I always thought, “If there ever was a chance to see hime live, I would go.” So, unbelievably, he comes to our town. He's doing the “Seven Decades of Funk” tour. He's in his 70's, can he still do it? Can he still put on a show?

We kinda got screwed for tickets, my wife bought them online the second after they went on sale, and we got these crappy seats, and the were supposed to be the best that were available. Then my brother gets seats on the floor. Anyways, it pays to know people, the guy who's in charge of the ushers, used to be another instructor at a college I used to teach at. After the opening act, he says to me, “so your sitting on the floor now? I won't ask to see your ticket.” So we are now in the 4th row, which has this big walkthrough isle in front of it.

So the band comes out and starts to play, and it's good, it's really really good. There are 3 drummers, 2 bass players, 3 horns (2 trumpet, 1 sax), 2 guitarists, and 3 backup singers. The sax player was fat, white and balding, but he played as good as, if not better, than Maceo. They play for about ten minutes while the sax player solo's and then this guy, this really cool looking old black guy, comes out and starts the introduction for James Brown. He says something like this: “Ladies and gentleman, right now it's Star Time. Introducing the soul brother number one, the man who sings try me, popcorn, sex machine, the payback, prisinor of love, cold sweat, papa's got a brand new bag, I got that feeling,” (after each song title the band pays it for a couple seconds) “Mister 'Please, Please, Please' himself. Hard Working, JAMES BROWN!”

I just about fainted like a little girl at a “New Kids on the Block” concert. I couldn't believe it, here I am seeing James Brown. He starts off with “Get Up Offa That Thing” and the place is rocking. Then the JB dancers come out, these 2 hot girls danced and did things that should not be legal. It was wild. And it just didn't stop. Then he brings out a suprise weapon, another singer, she's too good to be backup so she sings lead in some of the songs. I just can't describe this band, this concert, it was soo good. I've seen a lot of good bands before, but nothing even comes close. Then they start singing “Please, Please, Please” and he almost collapses and starts walking of the stage and another “Cool Guy” (thats right, there were 2 guys who just stood there and looked cool) comes out with a cape and puts over his shoulders and is helping off the stage, and he jumps up, throws off the cape, runs back to the mike and screams! He keeps singing, and then the same thing happens, he goes through this 4 times, each time with a seperate cape. It was awesome. Then after that song, he says, “I'm gonna get up and do my thing, You know moving, grooving it, can I do my thing?” and just when you thought the show was winding down and couldn't get any better, he works the crowd into a frenzy and does “Sex Machine.” It was so good I couldn't believe it. How could anything be this good? The band was so tight, and followed every little gesture he made. It was unbelievable.

So the show ends, and we head out back to see if we can snag some autographs, but he just drove past in his limo and waved. One of his guitar players came out and shared an interesting story with us. Apparently there are supposed to be 3 guitar players, but James Brown wouldn't let the oldest one play because he was “being charged with not smiling enough on stage.” Thats what you call running a tight ship.

Well, thats it. The best show I've ever seen. It's the benchmark that I will use to measure any shows I see from now on. If you ever get the chance to see James Brown, don't hesitate. Go. You will not be diappointed.

[Steeldolphin]

Wow sounds like the experience you had there...just goes to show you how lame i am i didnt even know he was in town

[haumovie]

Sounds amazing and very much like the experience my wife and I had when we went to see Maceo Parker in London.
I envy you have seen the master himself.

[Arch Stanton]

I hate to bring up an old thread, but I wanted to read this again in memory of the now late The Boss, Soul Brother Number One, Mr. Dynamite, Minister of The New New Super Heavy Funk, Mr. Please Please Please. The man who brought us such great hits as Try Me, Papa's Got a Brand New Bag, Night Train, Mother Popcorn, Cold Sweat, Hot Pants, and The Payback. We now say good bye to the Godfather of Soul, Hard Workin, James Brown.

[haumovie]

Very sad to hear about his death.
May he rest in funk...bless the king of funk